Elevator-controlling mechanism.



T. LARSSON.

I ELEVATOR CONTROLLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 0GT.16, 1902.RENEWED JUNE 25, 1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

a Mm 8 a i Ma nL Q a IT E O 2 E ,8 5 3 Q E y M 4m P w 2 3 L w l W o T1); 4 m 1 O l UNITED STATES PATE T orrion.

THUBE LARSSO'N, orvvoaoasrna, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF,WILLIAM E.

.13. stones,- or NEW YORK, N. Y), AND FRED A. Jonas, or WORCESTER,MAssAcnU= SETTSi no. stress.

Eimvh'roa-ooN'rRoLLme moHANIsia.

Patented. Feb. 9, recs.

Application filed. October 16, 1902; Serial Ila. 127,521.. Renewed. June25, 1908'. Serial No. 440,858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, Tnour LARSSON, a subj of the King of Sweden; residingat lVorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts,-have invented a new and useful Elevator-Controlling Mechanism,

of which the following isa specification.

This invention-relates to an improved 0011- struc'tionfor controlling ahydraulic elevator. Y

The especial object-of this invention is to provide a form or elevatorcontrolling mechanism in which the travel of the; elevator car or othermoving element is employed for closing the main valve when the elevatorto be stopped; to provide connections for normally locking the mainvalve with parts controlled from the motion of the elevator car or othermoving part, so that the elevator can not be started until' after themain valve is first automatically unlocked to provide for shifting themain valve from its closed position by means of pressure admittedthrough electrically operated valves;

ing mechanism operated by the travel of the elevator to come intooperation; to provide automatic circuit switching devices which willautomatically 'short-circuit the push buttons, so as to maintain acircuit until the car reaches the desired landing so that when a pushbutton has been operated the car will not stop until it reaches alanding corresponding thereto, and after a push button has beenoperated, no succeeding push button can be operated until after thistravel of the elevatoris completed to provide cutout devices forpreventing any operation from taking'place while any of'the elevatordoors are open; to provide-hand controlled connections for operating themain valve Whenever the valve restoring connections are unclutched,which hand-controlled conmotions are provided with automatic-endstopsfor, stopping the car at the end of its run; to provide an emergencycut-out switch in thejel'e'vatorcaiiforstopping the travel of theelevator-car inu nusual ca es; and to provide pressure controllingend-stops so as'to furnish additionala'ssurance of bringingthe cantorest-atthe-ende of its run.-

To: these and other: ends, this invention consists of' the partsandcombinations of parts as hereinafter described and more par-J ticularly'pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically the application ofthis invention to a direct plunger hydraulic elevator. It is understood,however, that a controlling mechanism constructed according to thisinvention is alsoappl-icable to other types ofhydraulic elevators.

' Referring'to the drawing for a detail description of one form ofconstruction em bodying this invention, A designates an elevator carwhich'is connected to and directly operated by a plunger B, which runsdown into a plunger'casing C. These parts may be of the ordinary orapproved construction and need not' be herein described at length.Opening into the plunger casing C is a to and from pipe 10, which isconnected with a valve casing containing the main valve V. Alsoconnected to the casing of the main valve V is a supply pipe 12 and anexhaust pipe 11. These parts are arranged substantially in theordinarycmanner so that when the main valve V is moved down; aconnection will be opened between the exhaust pi e 11 and the to andfrom pipe 10 to permit t e elevator car to descend, and When the mainvalve-V is lifted, a connection will be opened between the to and frompipe 1 and the supply pipe 12, to raise the elevator car. When the mainvalve V is in central position, the elevator is stopped. The main valveis shifted from normal position by pressure admitted throughelectrically controlled valves. To accomplish this purpose, anoperatiing piston 13 is secured on the lower end of the main valve stem.The. admission of pressure above the piston 13 to open the main valve Vis controlled by a small electrically actuated valve D. The valve Dis-arranged to be liftedby a magnet tion to the valve D and is arranged.to be lifted by a magnet N to' admit pressure from the supply pipe 1a toa pipe 18, which is also normally connected to the exhaust through pipe46. The pipe 18 connects through the casing of the emergency stoppingvalve to a pipe 19 admitting pressure to the lower end of thecontrolling cylinder and thence through a port below the piston 13 toraise the main valve. When the main valve is shifted from its normal orclosed position, it is moved or shifted back to normal position by meansof connections operated from the travel of theelevator car or othermoving element just before the car is to come to rest. These valverestoring connections are normallycoupled together to form an operativetrain between the elevator car or other moving part and the main valveso that the -main valve can not be shifted from its normal centralposition until this train has been unlocked or uncoupled. As hereinillustrated, the train of connections comprising this automatic valverestoring mechanism comprises a shaft. 20 journaledin brackets extendingup from the casing of the main valve V..

Secured on the outer end of the shaft 20 is a capstan or drum 21 havingan endless rope 22 wrapped thereon,.wh1ch rope 22 passes around suitable.sheaves and is connected to be operated by the elevator car A, althoughit might be'operated by other moving parts which travel with or at afixed speed ratio with the elevator car.

Journaled on the shaft 20 is a sleeve 23 having on its inner end a gear25 which drives a gear 26 through a pinion. Turning with the gear 26 isa pinion 27, which meshes with a rack carried by the valve stem of themain valve V.

On its inner face the sleeve 23 is provided with clutch teethcotiperatin'g with. a clutch section 28, which is splined on the shaft20 but is moved longitudinally thereon. The

clutch section 28 is normally locked into engagement with thesleeve 23to form a, valve restoring connection, by means of which the travel ofthe elevator car will restore the main valve to ,its central position.The means normally tending to hold the clutch sections into engagementwith each other comprise a bell-crank lever 29 havin'r a rod 30extending down therefrom which rod 30 is normally drawn down by a weight31.

To provide for unlocking the valve restoring connections when theelevator car is a be started, the rod '30 extends down into thecontrolling chamber and is provided with a piston 32, which is liftedwhen pressure :is admitted through the pipe 1?. Below the piston 32; isa separate piston 33, which'is lifted when pressure is admitted to thepipe 19. By means of this construction whenever pressure is admittedthrough mass either of the pipes 1? or 19, the valve restoringconnections will be first unlocked or uncoupled to permit the main valveto be shifted, which connection willremain unlocked until just beforethe car is to come to rest and the elevator will continue to travel solong as pressure is maintained in either of the pipes 17 or 19. Wheneverit happens,

however, that-pressure is cut off through the pipes 17 and19, theconnections normally tending to hold the clutch sections into engagementwith each other will connect the valve restoring train so that thefurther travel of the car will automatically close the main valve,bringing the car to rest opposite the desired landing, I consider this aparticularly important feature of my invention. That is to say, itprovides a more advantageous means for automatically clos ing the mainvalve than any of the other constructions with which I am familiar.

In the olderforrns of hydraulic eleigators, the'main valves have usuallybeen operated by hand. In thelarger and more modern hydraulic elevators,especially. for high speed elevators, the main valves are necessarily solarge that they cannot be readily actuated, by hand-controlledconnections.

To overcome this'difliculty, it has been proposed to operate the mainvalve by pressure so that a comparatively small pilot-valve could beused for admitting and exhausting the pressure which. shifts thecontrolling valve, while in othercases electric connections or othersupplemental power has been used to operate the main valve. ln none ofthese constructions, however, so far as I am familiar with the same, hasthe elevator car been coupled to a valve restoring mechanism by means ofwhich the travel of the car itself will be utilized to close the main.valve, which valve restoring connections are normally coupled .togetherso that the car cannot again be started until the clutch or othercoupling connection has first been thrown out of engagement.

In connection with the valve restoring mechanism, 1 also preferablyprovide handcontrolled connections which may be employed for shiftingthe main valveby hand and which will also provide for automatic allystopping the car at the ends of its run when the clutch sections are outof engagement. To accomplish this purpose, the sleeve 23 is providedwith a drum or capstan, wound on which is a controlling rope 24, whichpasses through the elevator car in be employed for closing thecircuits-whic admit pressure to shift the main valve. In the presentinstance I have illustrated an arrangement of electrical connection in jmagnet T, to one brush of an automaticcirwhich buttons are arranged atthe several landings, or in the elevator car, and operated from saidpush buttons are automatic switches arranged to short-circuit the pushbuttons so that when the elevatoncar has been started, no other circuitcan be completed until after the car has been brought to rest oppositethe desired landing.

To provide for stopping the car when 1t reaches the landing, a circuitbreaking device is employed, which is connected to be operated by thetravel of the car, and in practice also the several electric circuitsare preferably arranged so that no circuit can be completed or closedwhile any one of the elevator doors are open.

The electrical connections which are here-' in shown are describedsimply to illustrate one manner in which the electrically con trolledvalves may be operated.

Referring to the drawings for a detail description of the electricalconnections herein illustrated, a designates a wire from any suitablesource of electrical energy. A can rent passing along the .wire a passesthrough a wire which may be contained in a flexible pipe in the ordinarymanner, so as to be connected to a cut-out-kni fe switch K. or emergencycut-out, which is located in the elevator car and may be actuatedwhenever it is the terminal If.

desired to break the circuit to stop the car before it reaches thelanding towards which it is traveling. From the knife-switch K thecurrent passes throu h wire 6, through a numberof circuit brea ringdevices of ordinary construction, which are normally closed by theelevator doors, as illustrated diagrammatically. From the wire 6 thecurrent passes through a number of automatic switches. In the presentinstance, three automatic switches are illustrated corresponding withthe three floors or landings. Each of these automatic switches comprisesa air of terminals tt and spring contro led switch-blade (Z. When theswitch-blade is in normal position,it makes a connection with Each ofthe switch blades is'arranged to be tip ed by an electro-magnet '1 so asto-brea connection with the terminal at and close a circuit through theterminal 25 as illustrated in connection with the automatic switch No.1, corresponding to landing No. 1. Considering now automatic sWitchNo. las being in its normal position, the current will travel from its ter:

minal t through wire e, which wire is connected to the several pushbuttons at the dificrent floors or which may also be connected to pushbuttons in thecar. The push buttons will make connection with the sev-,eral return wires f .f f corresponding with theseveral landingsSupposethat push 1 be operated, the current button at-fioor No. willreturn through wire f through thecuit breaking device, whichautomatically breaks the circuit whenthe car approaches the desiredlanding. As hereinafter described, the circuit breaking device comprisescontact strips 41 and 42. In the pres entinstance, the current fromcontact strip ll passes through magnet M to the outgoing wire 1', whichreturns to the source of electric energy completing the circuit. Assoon, however, as the circuit is completed through one of the magnets T,it will pulldown its pivoted switch blade (Z breaking circuit withterminal t,. so that the current fromwire b will pass directly throughterminal t thence through the magnet .to the circuit breaker, thuscreating a short-circuit to the magnet T of the automatic switchcorresponding with the button which is operated. Throwing in ashort-circuit in this manner will cut out all of the push buttons, sothat no other circuit can be established while the car is in motion, andthe car will continue to run untilthe circuit ,is broken opposite thedesired landing by means of the automatic circuit breaker.

As herein illustrated, the sliding contact strips 41 and 42 are carriedby a movable piece 43 threaded into which is a lead-screw, which isconnected by a sprocket chain 45 to the shaft 20. The piece 43 ismounted on its lead screw so asto be moved back and forth therebysubstantially in the same manner that the carriage of a screw-cuttinglathe or other reciprocating part is controlled by such lead-screw. Asuitable gap or circuit breaking space is left between the contactstrips 41 and 412, so that when any terminal or brush corresponding withthe piece43, as by means of a lever (not shown).

By means of this construction when the elevator reaches the end of itsrun in one direc tion the pipe 19 will be connected to the exhaust, andwhen the elevator reaches the other end of its run, the pipe 17 will beconnected with the exhaust. This construction provides for additionalassurance that the elevator will not run past the desired limits,

although this mechanism is preferably only brought into operation as anemergency stop for automatically stopping the car.

I am aware that numerous changes may be made in practicing my inventionby those who are skilled in the art. For example, the specificelectrical constructions may be Widely varied or may be entirelydispensed with When it is desired to operate small controlling valves bydirect connections from the elevator-car. In veW-of this, I do not 1, Ina hydraulic elevator plant, the com- 5 bination" of a main valve, valverestoring 1 connections operated by a moving part of said plant andnormally connected to move the valve to its closed position, and meansfor uncoupling the valverestoring connections during the desired travelof the car. p

2. in a hydraulic elevator plant, the combination of a main valve,valve-restoring connections operatedfrorn a moving part of the plant,comprising a clutch normally connected to move the valve to its closedposition, and means for uncoupling the clutch during the desired travelof the car.

7 3. ln a hydraulic elevator plant, the combination of a mainvalve, ashaft, means for turning the shaft from a moving part of the plant, aclutch normally connected to move the valve to its closed position, andmeans for uncoupling the clutch during the desired travel of the car.

l. in a hydraulic elevator plant, the combination of a main valve, ashaft, a drum secured onthe shaft, an endless rope wound on said drum,and connecting to a movable part of the plant, a clutch normallyconnected to move the valve to its closed position, and means foruncoupling the clutch during the desired travel of the car.

5. in a hydraulic elevator plant, the combination of a main valve,ancperating piston for the main'valve, means for supplying pressure toact on said piston to shift the main valve, a valve restoring mechanismoperated from a moving part of the plant .and normally connected to movethe valve to its closed position, and means for uncouphug the valverestoring mechan sm during the desired motion of the car.

6. In a hydraulic elevator plant, the combination of a main valve, anoperating p s ton therefor a controlling valve for admit-- 'tingpressure to act on the piston to shift the main valve and start theelevator, and a valve-restoring mechanism operated from a moving part ofthe plant and normally con- 1 valve.

nected to restore the main valve to its closed position. 7 i i 7. In ahydraulic elevator plant, the combination of a main -valve, an operatingpis ton therefor, an electrically controlled valve for admittingpressure to act on the. piston to shift the main valve and start theelevator, and a valve restoring mechanism 0perated from a moving part ofthe plant and normally connected to restore the main valve to closedposition. i

8* In a hydraulicelevator plant, the combination. of a main valve, anoperating piston therefor, two electrically controlled valves, one foradmitting pressure above the piston-ito start the elevator in onedirection,

and the other for admitting pressure below the pistpn to start theelevator in the opposite directipn, and a valve-restoring mechanlSID.operated from a moving part of the plant and normally connected -torestore the main valve to closed position.

9. In a hydraulic elevator plant, the com- I bination of a main valve, avalve-restorin mechanism-operated from a moving part 0 the plant andnormally connected to movethe main valve-to closed position, and anelevator starting device controlled from the car for first disconnectingthe-.valvemestoring mechanism, and then opening the main valve to startthe car in either direction.

'10. In a hydrauliqelevator plant, the combination of a main' valve, avalve restoring mechanism operated from a moving part of the plant andcomprising a clutch normally connected to move the valve to'closedosition, and starting devic es controlled rom the elevator-car for firstuncoupling the clutch and then moving the main valve to start the car upor down. 7 11; In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of a main valve,a valve restoring mechanism operated from the travel of the car andnormally connected to move the valve to its closed posi ion, and meansfor applying pressure to first uncouple the valve restoring mechanismand then shift the main 12. In a many connected to move the main valveto its closed position, an operating-piston for the main valve, and acontrolling valve for first admitting pressure to uncouple the valverestoring-mechanism and to then act on the piston to shift the mainvalve.

13. In a hydraulicelevator, the combinahydraulic elevator, thecombination of a main valve, a valve restoring mechanismj operated bythe travel of the carn0rtion of a main valve, a valve restoring mech-'anism operated by the travel of the car and normally connected to movethe main valve to its closed position, an operating piston for the mainvalve, a piston connected to uncouple the valve restoring mechanism,

and a controlling valve for first admitting pressure to uncouple thevalve restoring mechanism and to then act on the piston forshifting themain valve.

an operating piston for the main valve, a

iston for uncou ling the clutch, a controlvalve for a itting pressure toact on pistons, whereby the valve restoring mechanism will first-beunlocked and the main valve then shifted, and a weight for engagementwhen the controllin "i's'shutofl', whereby the continue moving the partsof the clutch back into travel of the car will move the main valve toclosed position.

. 15. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of a main valve, a valverestoring mechanism operated by the travel of the car, a clutch for thevalve restoring mechanism, an operating piston for the main valve, two

pistons connected to uncouple the clutch,

and two electrically operated controlling valves, one for admittingpressure to uncouple the clutch and shift the main valve in onedirection, the other'connected to admit pressure to uncouple the clutchand move the main valve in the opposite direction.

16. In ahydraulic elevator, the combination of a main valve,whand-operated valve gearing for operating the main valve om theelevator-car, a shaft, connections for'turning said shaft from thetravel of the elevator-car, and a clutch normally connectiiig the shaftwith the valve shifting mechanism. 7 I V 17., In a hydraulic elevator,the combination of a main valve, an electrically operated valve foradmittin pressure to shift the main valve, means or establishing acircuit to open the controlling valve, a circuit breaker operated by thetravel of the car for releasing the controlling valve when the elevatorreaches the desired landing, a valve restoring mechanism actuated by thetravel of the car, com risin a clutch, and connections operate by thepressure admitted pressure" by the electrically operated controllingvalve for holding the clutch uncoupled.

18. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of a main valve anelectrically controlled valve for admitting pressure to shift the mainvalve in one direction, an electrically controlled valve for admittingpressure to shift the main valve in the o posite diree tion, means forestablishing circuits to operate said valves, a circuit breaking devicefor opening the circuit when the elevator is opposite the desiredlanding, a clutch normally connected to close the elevator valve fromthe travel of the car, and means for uncoupling the clutch when pressureis admitted throu h either of the electrically operated contro ingvalves.

19. In a hydraulic elevator, the combina-, tion of a main valve, anelectrically operated controlling valve for admitting pressure to shiftthe main valve, push buttons corresponding to the several landings,automatic switches for sh ort-circuiting the push buttons andmaintaining circuits for the controlling valve until the car reaches thedesired landing, a circuit breaker operated from the travel of the carfor automatically breaking the circuits when the car reaches the desiredlanding, a clutch normally connected to restore the main valve to closedposition from the travel of the car, and means for uncoupling the clutchwhen pressiul'e is admitted through the controlling va ve.

20. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of a main valve, anelectrically operated valve for admitting pressure to shift the mainvalve, and a moving piece operated by the travel ofthe a circuit,breaker and also connected to exhaust the pressure admitted by theelectrically operatedvalve to insure the stopping of the elevator at theend of its run.

In testimony whereofI have-hereunto set PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE, Loms W.SOUTHGATE.

car arranged to act as

